August 2008  

Awarded a Commendation for Brave Conduct

Mr Roger Roy CULLINAN

On 26 July 2001, Mr Cullinan (then an Australian Federal Police Agent serving with UNCIVPOL in East Timor) rescued an elderly woman from a burning hut in the Suai District of East Timor.

Mr Cullinan, on patrol investigating an unrelated incident, was alerted to a fire in a hut in a nearby village. The walls and roof of the simple building were being consumed by fire and an elderly woman was known to be inside. With no breathing apparatus or protective clothing, Mr Cullinan entered the hut to search for the woman. He found her and grabbed her by the shoulders and attempted to move her out of the building. Distressed at having to surrender her few meagre, but precious, possessions to the fire, the woman was distracted and attempted to collect her belongings. Mr Cullinan acted decisively and lifted the woman and carried her to safety.

For his actions, Mr Cullinan is commended for brave conduct.

Mr Brett Edward NICHOLLS

During the afternoon of 10 January 2007, Mr Nicholls chased and helped detain an armed offender after an attempted robbery at a service station at St Albans, Victoria.

A man entered a service station store armed with a knife, removed an item from a shelf and walked behind the counter. The offender was challenged by one of the staff who then quickly fled the scene for help. The offender attempted to open the cash register before stealing packets of cigarettes. Mr Nicholls was outside a nearby shop when he heard the sales assistant's calls for help and learned that the offender was carrying a knife. Mr Nicholls joined another bystander to chase the offender, pursuing him to a vacant lot. Brandishing the knife, the offender lunged several times at the men.

Mr Nicholls tried to reason with the man whose behaviour was increasingly irrational. Again he made several swings with the knife, stabbing Mr Nicholls on the back of his shoulder. The other man was able to chase the offender and eventually detain him. Because of his injuries, Mr Nicholls was forced to leave the scene and return to nearby shops where he received help until ambulance officers arrived at the scene.

For his actions, Mr Nicholls is commended for brave conduct.

Sergeant Christopher Daniel SHAW

On the night of 8 December 2004, Sergeant Shaw intervened to resolve a siege situation at Bellbird Park, Queensland.

Sergeant Shaw and a colleague were despatched to check the condition of a man at his home who had taken a quantity of anti-depressants and had slashed his wrists. Initially compliant with police instructions, the man began to threaten the officers with a steel-spiked mace and a sword. As the police were not wearing body armour they were forced to retreat from the house, followed by the offender who struck out repeatedly towards Sergeant Shaw. The offender then armed himself with a double barrel shotgun and, keeping the officers at bay, doused the police van with petrol. Running a fuel trail back to his house he incinerated the vehicle. The offender then turned his attention to the officers, searching for them and discharging numerous rounds of ammunition. Unexpectedly, a woman drove into the street within sight and range of the armed man. Despite the threat to his life, Sergeant Shaw broke cover and moved the woman to safety. He did so under the glare of street lighting, exposing his position to the armed offender. Sergeant Shaw maintained a watch on the situation until he was joined by other police. Some time later, a safe surrender was negotiated.

For his actions, Sergeant Shaw is commended for brave conduct.

Mr Michael Jason THOMPSON

On the morning of 2 November 2006, Mr Thompson jumped onto a moving truck which was veering out of control on Wollombi Road, Bellbird, New South Wales.

 Mr Thompson was travelling to work on Wollombi Road, Bellbird, when he notified emergency services that a semitrailer was veering dangerously, travelling in the opposite direction. The driver was slumped at the wheel and the vehicle had a line of traffic caught in behind. Mr Thompson pulled over his car and raced across the road to the heavy vehicle and mounted its running board. He quickly reached in through the cabin and pulled on the handbrake, bringing the truck to a halt at a road intersection. Mr Thompson contacted the owner of the truck who was able to inform him that the driver was a diabetic. He rendered first aid to the driver and remained with him until ambulance officers arrived at the scene to treat the victim.

For his actions, Mr Thompson is commended for brave conduct.